World

US-China trade: Trump touts progress in talks for deal

December 30, 2018 11:26 am

US PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP {LEFT}

“Big progress” is being made in US-China relations, Donald Trump has said, at the end of a year that has seen both countries apply tit-for-tat tariffs.

A trade war erupted earlier this year when Mr Trump complained China was not doing enough to address a trade imbalance between the nations.

Earlier this month, both agreed to suspend new tariffs to allow for talks.

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Mr Trump said he and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke on Saturday and that talks were “moving along very well”.

Mr Trump did not offer more detail on what specific progress was being made.

Chinese state news agencies confirmed the call had taken place, but were more guarded in their language.

China’s CCTV channel said Mr Xi praised the US for seeking “co-operative and constructive Sino-US relations”.

Unusually, it was Mr Trump who first confirmed his call with Mr Xi, not the other way around.